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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established in 2010 by the National Green Tribunal Act. It replaced National Environment Appellate Authority. It was set up to handle cases and speed up proceedings of cases related to environmental issues.

The Tribunal has a mandate to dispose of applications and petitions within a period of six months. India is only the third country in the world - after Australia and New Zealand - to set up such a body to deal with environmental cases.

The principal bench of the NGT is located in Delhi, with other benches sitting in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai. Justice Swatanter Kumar has served as the Chairman of the Tribunal since December 2012.The NGT has delivered a number of high-profile judgements. Most recently, it made it illegal for diesel vehicles over 15 years old from plying on the roads of Delhi, in a bid to tackle heavy air pollution.

The NGT has issued include the cancellation of clearance to coal blocks in the Hasdeo-Arand forests of Chhattisgarh.

In November 2016, the Kolkata bench of NGT banned all solid waste and noise pollution in Sunderbans in a bid to protect the wildlife. It had earlier banned all construction activity in the eco-sensitive region.